Air-brake drain device



Dec. l5, 1925' D. H. GARDNER t1- AL AIR BRAKE DRAIN ISEVICE Filled oct, s, 1924 4505,42- f7/fsa" Hr wr ogm/Ef Patented Dec. 15., 1925.

UNITED STATES DANIEL H. GARDNER AND GEORGE BAKER. MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

AIR-BRAKE DRAIN DEVICE.

Application filedy October 6, 1924. Serial No. 741,858.

T all whom/t may concern.

Be 1t known that we, DANIEL H. GARDNER and GEORGE BAKER, citizens of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful `Improvements in an AirBrake Drain Device; and we do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, vand exact ydescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled inthe art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This inventionr relates to an airv brake apparatus, such as now commonly used on railway cars and particularly to means for cleaning the dirt, dust and moisture from certain chambers in such an apparatus. The air used in the ordinary air brake apparatus is pumped by an air pump mounted on the engine and considerable dust is pumped into the air tanks. This dust passes into the air conduits in the brake apparatus and is very apt to interfere with the proper working of some of the valves and of the delicate parts. Most; air brake apparatus today, therefore, has a dust collector in the air line in advance of the triple valve mechanism and screens and other dust collecting devices are used. The dust collected by the dust collector is periodically removed and surprisingly large quantities of dust are taken from the apparatus. Owing to the fact that the apparatus must be sealed or air tight when in operation, any moisture which collects in the apparatus is retained therein. Considerable moisture or water sometimes collects in the apparatus and is often carried into the triple valve and other delicate parts. In cold weather this water freezes and interferes withthe proper operation of the air brake. This has often resulted in the brakes being set and flat wheels produced thereby.

lit is an object of this invention to provide a very simple and eliicient means whereby any water collecting in the various chambers of the air brake apparatus may be removed and which will also function to expel dust collectingin such chambers.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a simple and eiicient means in the dust collector used on the air brake apparatus and in other chambers thereof comprising a member having an opening Vto the atmosphere adapted to be closed by a movable member which is normally held #in open position but which is adapted to close upon a certain air pressure being attained in said chambers whereby any moisture can be drained from the apparatus and whereby ar jet or blast of air will pass through said opening before the same is closed by said member, the dust or dirt being expelled by said jet or blast of air.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully set forth in the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views, and in which,

Fig. l is a view partly in side elevation showing certain portions of an air brake apparatus, a part thereof being broken away and other parts being shown in vertical section;

Fig. 2 is a view in vertical section of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. l; Fig. 3 is a view in horizontal section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, as indicated by the arrow;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section through another portion ofthe apparatus shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a view in horizontal section taken on the line 5-5 ofFig. 4, Figs. 2 to 5 being shown on an enlarged scale.

Referring to the drawings, a portion of an air brake apparatus such as now coinmonly used on railway trains is illustrated in which it will only be necessary to consider' the air conduit 6 through which air passes when the apparatus is operated, the centrifugal dust collector 7 interposed in the air line 6 andthe casing 8 constituting the bottom of the triple valve mechanism, a portion of which is shown as 9 above casing 8. The dust collector 7 is of the well known centrifugal or cyclone type comprising an inverted frusto-conical chamber l() into which the conduit 6 tangentially discharges. Said chamber 10 has an opening at its lower end communicating with an enlarged cham` ber 1l. The dust collector 7 has a passage 12 extending through a downwardly projecting spout or hub in the center of cha1nber l() and communicating at the side of the device with the-continuation of the conduit 6. The conduit 6 then is connected to the chamber 13 formed in casing `8 by means of a coupling 14 of any well known or standard type, a screen l5 being interposed between the conduit 6 and chamber 13. The parts thus far described are well known and standard parts of the railway air brakes now used. The air turned into the conduit 6 is tangentially projected into casing 10. A circular or Cyclonic motion is given to the air and the dust therein is thrown out against the wall of said chamber and settles down to the bottom thereof and passes through the opening in said bottom. rEhe air passes out of chamber lO centrally at its top through the passage 12 and thence on through the conduit 6 through screen and into the casing 8 from which it passes to the triple valve and operates the same.

In the ordinary dust collector used a stem rises from the bottom of casing 11 carrying an enlarged flat head with a. slightly convex top surface similar to the stem and head shown in chamber 11 in Fig. 1. In the standard apparatus used, a plug is screwed into the bottom of the casing forming chamber 11 which is periodically removed to remove the dust from said chamber. An ordinary standard solid plug is also screwed into the bottom of casing 8.

In accordance with the present invention, the plug commonly used in chamber 11 is removed and the hollow plug or shell 16 inserted in its place. The 'plug 16 has a flange tting against the bottoni` of the casing forming chamber 11 and a threaded portion 16 adapted to be screwed in said casing. The plug 16 is provided with a central bore, the top of which forms a valve seat 16b and a valve 17 is provided adapted to engage said seat and close said bore, said valve having spaced arms 17 forming a guiding means therefor in said bore and having a depending central stem 17h. A stem 17c extends upward from valve 17 and carries an enlarged lat top 17d having a slightly convex top sur face, which surface normally is disposed a short distance beneath the opening in the bottom of chamber 10. rlhe lower end of plug or shell 16 is exteriorly threaded and receives an interiorly threaded cup 1S having a central opening receiving and guiding the stem 17h and having a plurality ofports 18n in its bottom, said ports opening to the atmosphere. A. threaded collar 18h is placed on shell 16 above the cup 18 adapted to hold the cup in various positions on said shell. A coiled compression spring 19 surrounds the stem 17h bearing at its lower end on the bottom of cup 1S and at its upper end on the lo wer side of valve 17 or its guiding means 1.13.

In ope ation, the spring 19 will be placed under suoli tension by adjustment of cup 1S and its collar '18 that the valve 17 will nor mally occupy the position shown in 1 andi2ftthis time', there is-'nov air pressure in the conduit 6 or chamber 10. .Any water finding its way into the apparatus will pass into the chamber 10 and run down into chamber 11, and hence, downward into cup 18 and will drain out through the ports 18". Any dust separated by the member 7 will also pass, as usual, down into the chamber 11 and some or all of this dust will find its way down into the shell 16 and cup 18. Then the air is turned into the air line 6 in the operation of the air brake apparatus, air pressure will be built up in chambers 10 and 11 and valve 17 will be forced down on its seat 16 against the pressure of spring 19. This will close the passage or bore through shell 16 so that chamber 11 will be sealed, as usual, and the air will be retained therein. (lust previous to the closing of valve 17 a jet or gust of air will rush beneath said valve through the bore in shell 16 and out througn the ports 18H. This short rush of air will carry any dirt, dust or moisture in said ports out through the ports 18a. rl`he valve 17 will remain closed as long as a certain air pressure is maintained in the apparatus. lVhen this pressure again dies down, spring 19 will again open valve 17 and the apparatus will be ready for a new operation when the air is again turned on.

In Figs. il and 5, a form of the invention is shown adapted to be used in the casing t3 below the triple valve or in the supply tanks for lthe air apparatus, such as the locomotive tanlr. Such tanks, as above stated, usually have a drain plug threaded into the bottom thereof. In using the present invention, this plug is removed and replaced by a hol low shell 20. lVhile any convenient size of shell ma)v be used in actual practice, a shell of 1% inch exterior diameter has been found to be suitable and the bosses already on the air tanks will accommodate such a shell. rl`he shell 2() is exteriorly threaded at its lower portion to receive a cup 21 similar to the cup 1S already described, which cup 21 is held in adjusted position on said shell 20 by a threaded collar 22, and which cup has ports 21a in the bottom thereof. The top of shell 2O is formed as a valve seat 20 and a valve 23 is formed to co-operate with said seat, said valve having a guiding means 2&3 therebeneaih comprising spaced arms iittiug in the bore or shell, 20. The valve 23 also has a downwardly projecting stem 23" guided in a central opening in the bottom of cup 2l, which stem has its lower end threaded to receive a pair nuts 211, the lower of which forms a jam nut. A spring 25 surrounds stem 23", bearing at its lower end against the bottoni of cup 21 and at its upper end against the guiding means 23H The valve 28 and member 17d may be provided with slots in their top surfaces, as shown in Figs.

2 and t to receive a turnin instrument when 'it is desired to grind the valves 17 and 23.

In operation, the valve 23 will normally bc held in open position by spring 25, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the nuts 24 limiting its upward movement. At this time there is no air pressure in the chamber 13. When the air is turned into said chamber to operA ate the apparatus, air pressure will be built up in chamber 13 and the valve 23 will be forced down to its seat 20c against the pressure of spring 25, thus closing and sealing the chamber 13 so that the air will be retained therein. Justbefore the valve 23 closes, air will rush around the sides thereof and through the shell 20 and out through the ports 21a. The rush of air will carry the dust collected in the bottom of chamber 13 or in parts 2() and 21c through the ports 21, Any water of moisture collected in the chan'iber 13 of cup 21 will, of course, drain through the ports 213k When the pressure again dies down in chamber 13 the spring will litt the valve 23 and the parts will then be in position for another operation when the air is again turned on.

From the above description it is seen that applicant has provided a very simple and etlicient means tor cleaning the apparatus ot moisture, water, dust and dirt. Vhen vthe air is turned into the apparatus, as described, the dust is quickly blown out and a cloud ot dust is seen to issue through the port-sinto cups 1S and 21. Any water or nu stare also either drains out of the ports or is blown out when the yair is turned on and the water therefore does not collect and freeze in the apparatus causing improper operation thereof and ot' the brakes. The device is, as stated, quite simple and can be applied to standard apparatus Without any change being madetherein. The vdevice has been actually demonstrated in actual practice on a railway train and found to be very suocessliul and efficient.

lt will, ot course, be understood, that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts without departing from the scope of applicants invent-ion, Which, generally stated, consists .in a device capable of carry ing out the objects above set forth and the novel parts and combinations shown and described and defined in the appended claims.

lVhat is claimed is:

1` The combination with a chamber adapted to receive air under pressure, said chamber having an opening in its bottom, a casing secured in said opening having a passage therethrough with a valve seat formed therein, a valve disposed above said casing having a stem passing through said passage, an open bottom member threaded on the bottom of said casing through which said stem projects, a spring surrounding said stem between said last mentioned member and valve, and means limiting the upward movement of said valve whereby the tension ot said spring can be varied.

2. The combination with a dust collector ot an air brake apparatus having an inverted conical chamber with an opening in its bottom and an enlarged dust collecting chamber below said opening, said latter chamber having an opening in its bottom, a casing secured in said opening having a passage therethrough opening at the bottom 'or' said casing, saidcasing having a valve seat formed therein, a valve adapted to cooperate with said seat and having a stem extending through said passage, a spring in said casing normally holding said valve elevated, a stem rising from said valve carrying an enlarged head at its upper end, said head normally being spaced below said first mentioned opening but adapted to close said opening when said spring is suliciently tensioned, said head and valve being adapted to be depressed and said valve closed when air under pressure enters said inverted conical chamber.

In testimony whereof we 'aix our signatures.

DANIEL H. GARDNER. GEORGE BAKER. 

